Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Recipe: Spicy Moroccan Lamb Chops


Spicy Moroccan Lamb Chops
Serves two

Ingredients:
4 lamb chops
1 tbsp. tumeric
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. dried ginger
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. chilli powder
Salt
Black pepper
Method:
1.     In a pestle and mortar, pound all the dry ingredients until they are a coarse powder.
2.     Smash 4 cloves of garlic and leave in dish.
3.     Rub the lamb chops with the mixture and leave to marinade (I left them for 24 hours)
4.     Then grill on a hot griddle pan for three minutes on each side. 

Recipe: Malteaser Rocky Road


Malteaser Rocky Road
Serves 12

Ingredients:
175g pouch Maltesers
250g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken into pieces
50g butter
8 digestive biscuits
60g baby marshmallows
Icing sugar to dust over



Method:

1.     Line a 22cm-square tin with parchment paper.
2.     Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bowl over boiling water until it has completely melted. Remove from the heat.
3.     Set this aside to cool for at least 10 mins whilst you get the rest of the ingredients ready. It's important that the chocolate isn't too hot when it is combined with the other ingredients or it could melt the Maltesers and marshmallows and take the 'rocky' out of this recipe!
4.     Next, bash up the biscuits in a plastic bag until you have a good mixture of chunks and powder.
5.     Finally, add the crushed biscuits, marshmallows and Maltesers to the mixture and fold with a spoon until all are lightly coated in chocolate.
6.     Pour into the tin to refrigerate for at least 30 mins. Sieve over a generous dusting of icing sugar.
7.     Cut into slices before serving

Recipe: My Salad Dressing


MySalad Dressing

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Method:
Blitz all ingredients

Recipe: Sticky Toffee Pudding


Sticky Toffee Pudding (Catherine Leydens Recipe)
Serves 8

Ingredients:
175g/6oz Self Raising Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
75g/3oz Butter (room temperature)
150g/5oz  Light Muscovado Sugar
2 Eggs (beaten)
175g/6oz  Dates (roughly chopped)
100g Packet Chopped Walnuts
150ml/¼ pt. Hot Water

Toffee Sauce
125g/4oz Butter
175g/6oz Muscovado Sugar
170ml Carton Cream


Method:
11. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly grease and base line a 7”/18cms square tin.
22. Put chopped dates into a bowl and pour over the hot water.
33. Meanwhile, place flour, baking powder, butter, sugar and eggs into a large bowl and beat until smooth.
44. Blend the water and dates and add chopped walnuts and stir until well blended.
55. Transfer to prepared tin and bake in central oven position for 40 to 50 minutes until well risen, nicely browned and springy to the touch. Turn onto a wire tray to cool.
66. Meanwhile, make sauce by putting all the ingredients into a saucepan over a low heat and gently stir until butter is melted, sugar is dissolved and sauce has thickened slightly. Do not boil, just allow simmering.
77. Cut the pudding into 8 squares, place on serving plate and spoon over the toffee sauce.

Recipe: Baked lamb with cumin & coconut milk


Baked lamb with cumin & coconut milk
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1.6kg/3 ½ lb. diced lamb
Plain flour seasoned with salt & pepper for dusting
Vegetable oil for frying
75g butter
2 large onions, peeled & finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed
2 inch ginger, peeled & finely chopped
225g ground almonds
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon cardamom pods bruised
1 tablespoons black onion seeds/ mustard seeds
1 chilli, finely chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoon chilli powder
2 cans coconut milk
600ml chicken stock
A bunch of coriander chopped

Method:
1.     Dust the lamb with seasoned flour brown the meat
2.     Heat the butter and sweat the onions for 10 mins
3.     Add the garlic, ginger, ground almonds, & all the spices & cook for 5 minutes
4.     Return the lamb to frying pan and add the coconut milk and stock and bring to boil
5.     Transfer to oven dish and put in 180 degree oven
6.     Cook for an hour
Serve with chopped coriander

Recipe: My thai pineapple fried rice


Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 Chicken fillets
1 cup pineapple titbits (fresh is better, but canned works too)
2 cups cooked rice, preferably at least 1 day old (I use uncle bens microwaveable basmati)
4 Tbsp. oil for stir-frying
2 shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red or green chili (de-seeded if milder rice is desired)
1/2 cup roasted unsalted cashews
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 egg, beaten (omit if vegan)
1/4 cup currants (or raisins)
3 Tbsp. chicken or vegetable stock
3 Tbsp. fish sauce (or substitute 3+ 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce if vegetarian)
2 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. sugar
3 spring onions, finely sliced
1/3 cup fresh coriander

1. Swirl 3 Tbsp. oil around a wok or large frying pan over medium-high
heat.
2. Add the chicken, shallots, garlic, and chili, stir-frying for
one minute, or until fragrant...
3. Push aside the shallots, garlic, and chili to make room for the egg
4. Add the beaten egg to the wok/pan, and stir fry quickly to
cook.
5. Mix together the chicken or vegetable stock, fish sauce, curry powder, and sugar.
Stir well, and then add to wok/pan.
6. Add the cashews and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
7. Add rice (already hot from micro)
8. Add the frozen peas, currents (or raisins), and pineapple. Stir-fry to mix in.
9. Continue stir frying until everything is integrated
10. To serve, sprinkle with spring onion and coriander.

Recipe: Carrot Salad

Carrot Salad
Serves 4-6


Ingredients:
A handful of flaked almonds
5/6 Carrots
1 Fresh red chilli
A Bunch of fresh coriander
A 2cm piece of ginger
1 Lemon

Method:
1. Toast almonds in a dry frying pan
2. Grate carrots into a bowl
3. Blitz the chilli, half the coriander & ginger
4. Drizzle a lug of olive oil over the salad with a pinch of salt
5. Finaly grate in some lemon zest and squeeze of lemon juice
6. Toss well and sprinkle the almonds & remainder of the coriander over the top and serve